University Of Kentucky Professor To Receive Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 25 Feb 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) will honor William C. Lubawy, Ph.D., executive associate dean at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, for his excellence as an instructor, his outstanding achievements as a researcher and scholar, and his overall impact on pharmacy education and the profession.

Lubawy will receive the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award during the 2008 AACP and Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) Annual Meeting and Seminars in Chicago, Ill., July 19-23. The award, named for the late Robert K. Chalmers, former AACP president and distinguished educator, consists of a Steuben glass owl sculpture and a monetary prize.

"It gives AACP great pleasure to recognize an educator of Dr. Lubawy's caliber with this top honor," said Lucinda L. Maine, Ph.D., AACP executive vice president and CEO. "He is an extraordinary example for all faculty who strive for excellence in teaching, research and service."

Spanning more than three decades, Lubawy's career began as an assistant professor at the UK College of Pharmacy, eventually becoming a full professor. He served as the associate dean for academic affairs from 1983 to 2007. During the mid-1980s, he was instrumental in developing the non-traditional Pharm.D. option at the university, the second such program offered in the U.S. In 1986-87, and again in 1999-2000, he served as the interim dean of the college. He was selected as the Outstanding Faculty Member by six different graduating classes of the College of Pharmacy and received a Great Teacher Award from the UK Alumni Association. He also has received outstanding alumnus awards from Butler University in Indianapolis and The Ohio State University in Columbus.

"At UK, Dr. Lubawy was and is a beacon for best practices in teaching," said Frank Romanelli, Pharm.D., assistant dean for education and associate professor of pharmacy. "Put simply, Dr. Lubawy has consistently practiced what he preaches by experimenting in the classroom, considering teaching in a reflective and thoughtful manner, and disseminating innovations and experiences to his peers."

Throughout his distinguished career, Lubawy has had continuous extramural funding as a principal investigator or co-investigator on educational/research grants or training projects from various foundations, AACP-GAPS, the NIH and the Bureau of Health Professions. He is the author or co-author of more than 60 papers and book chapters, and 55 educational and research abstracts.

Lubawy introduced a number of educational innovations at Kentucky. His most recent teaching innovation involves a series of 15-minute digital lectures that allow students to learn the basic pharmacology of drugs for diabetes without formal class meetings. Instead, students view assigned blocks of the digital lectures through streaming video accessible online 24 hours a day. Time in the classroom is reserved for questions and answers, individual and group quizzes, and collaborative learning groups working through case studies. The goal is for students to learn basic information from the videos plus develop problem solving and critical thinking skills in class but in a more time and space efficient manner.

"I am honored and very pleased to be chosen as the recipient of the Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award," Lubawy said. "In addition, I feel incredibly fortunate to be at UK and to have had wonderful colleagues and students with whom to work and who are open to and encourage continually trying new things."

The 2008 AACP/AFPC Annual Meeting and Seminars, A Bold New World, will be held July 19-23, 2008 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers in Chicago, Ill. The conference offers educational programming, exhibits, networking events and award presentations. Registration fees are waived for credentialed journalists. Visit the AACP Web site or contact our media relations representative for more information.

About AACP

Founded in 1900, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) is a national organization representing the interests of pharmacy education and educators. Comprising all 105 U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy including more than 4,300 faculty, 48,500 students enrolled in professional programs and 3,600 individuals pursuing graduate study, AACP is committed to excellence in pharmacy education.

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy